American Career Institute closes in Framingham, other locations

Students said they were caught off-guard Wednesday when they were told to leave the American Career Institute in the midst of classes as the school abruptly closed due to financial difficulties.

By Kendall Hatch/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Kendall Hatch/Daily News staff

Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 9, 2013 at 9:22 AM

By Kendall Hatch/Daily News staff

Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 9, 2013 at 9:22 AM

FRAMINGHAM

» Social News

Students said they were caught off-guard Wednesday when they were told to leave the American Career Institute in the midst of classes as the school abruptly closed due to financial difficulties.

The training center on Newbury Street is one of eight ACI locations in Massachusetts and Maryland. A notice posted on the entrance yesterday said that all of the training centers had been closed due to financial hardship.

Student Mynor Flores, attending classes to become a medical assistant, said he went to class as usual Wednesday morning and all the teachers left for a meeting at 12:30 p.m. He said they returned an hour later and told all the students that classes were canceled for the day and they had to leave the building.

Flores, of Framingham, said he was told by staff members that students would hear about any further developments.

"Until now, I still haven’t received any phone call," Flores said. "I feel like I’ve been duped."

Flores said he is more than halfway through his 10-month program and that he only had two courses left before he could test for his certification.

Flores said he has sunk money into textbooks and equipment for the course and is worried about curriculum compatibility if he has to transfer to another school.

The school in Framingham was locked up Wednesday afternoon, although a man briefly appeared to shut off the lights in the lobby when a Daily News reporter and photographer showed up.

The message posted on the entrance of the school said all of its campuses were closed as of Jan. 9.

"The owner had to make the difficult decision to close the school due to its recent inability to access additional credit from the school's lenders," the notice read. "Without this credit, ACI is not able to continue operating."

The notice also said that ACI would be working with other schools with similar programs to ensure that students could continue their training elsewhere. It suggested that students could also look into a federal student loan discharge option for which they may be eligible.

According to the notice, the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure will post a bulletin for students of ACI with information on next steps. The bulletin will be posted at http://license.reg.state.ma.us/public/schools/closed/bulletin/default.html.

Student Danielle LaFrance, also training to become a medical assistant, said she was out sick today but was studying for a mid-term when she got a call from a friend telling her what happened.

"I feel like I got scammed and that my money is getting taken from me," she said Wednesday afternoon. "I’m angry. I put so much time and effort into this."

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LaFrance, of Framingham, said she would be looking into continuing her studies at another school, but said she isn’t sure if she can swing it with unreliable transportation, a job and a baby at home.

"I liked my school," she said. "I liked what I was doing."

A call placed to the ACI in Framingham went unanswered, although a message about scheduling said that all classes were being held as scheduled. The website for the school appeared to have been taken down Wednesday.

American Career Institute also has locations in Cambridge, Springfield, Braintree and Woburn.